LONG BEACH - The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to hear the appeal of a Long Beach man's conviction in the fatal beating and stabbing of a 70-year-old cancer patient, who had been "like a mother" to the defendant.

The state's highest court denied a defense petition seeking review of the case against Andrew Felton Odom, 44, who was convicted in May 2010 of second-degree murder for the slaying of Rita Wiley.

The victim, who was battling throat cancer, was found dead at her home on Aug. 21, 2008, by longtime friend and roommate Sandra Patterson.

Wiley was beaten and stabbed repeatedly. At the trial, Patterson described the state in which she found her friend's body, which was curled in the fetal position in the backyard of the house in the 1000 block of East 15th Street.

Patterson told the court Wiley had been like a mother to Odom, giving him money and loaning him her car after his own family cut him off.

Patterson also said she told Wiley she thought Odom was taking advantage of her. She said she thought Odom might have snapped after Wiley finally refused to let him use her car because he failed to return it when he had said he would.

Odom was arrested the day Wiley's body was found at a motel in the area of Pacific Coast Highway and Walnut Avenue.

Police said he and Wiley had known each other for

20 years and said Odom told investigators Wiley gave him $20 that day but she also said she was tired of giving him money.

Odom was sentenced on July 9, 2010, to 15 years to life in prison, plus an additional year.

The conviction requires he serve the base term of 16 years before he can be considered eligible for parole.